(Peacefully) Fighting back with Mindfulness: Mental Health Awareness Month

In light of Mental Health Awareness Month and the abundant articles we’ve written about the pressures and high expectations imposed on the millennials generation to have their life together make it clear that the issue exists, and is widespread. But what can we to about it to mitigate the stress associated with it? A 2010 study conducted at Harvard University in Massachusetts found that mindfulness increases happiness. But what is mindfulness? Reachout.com explains that ‘mindfulness’ “simply means paying attention to the present moment. Practising mindfulness can help you to cope with everyday life and deal with tough times.” Mindfulness is often associated with meditation. Whilst meditation is a valuable practice for eliminating stress, mindfulness can be achieved in a variety of ways – the most important part is to remain acutely aware of yourself and your feelings. Reachout advises to concentrate on what’s happening around you. Think about this right now as you’re reading:

• What sounds can you hear?
• What can you smell?
• Are you hot? cold?
• Are you hungry?
• How are you breathing? Think about each breath you take. In, and out.

That is what mindfulness feels like.

To learn more about (peacefully) fighting back your stress with ‘mindfulness,’ read more on Reachout!

– Leonie

“I’m 25 and still figuring things out”

Finding Diosa Taylor’s article online on Gradtouch has been an absolute blessing and a pleasure to read. She seems to perfectly encapsulate everything the #NoDeadline cause is about. We’ve managed to sum up her article in 3 little points:

1. Don’t build up ages as deadlines. Reaching ‘milestone’ ages often makes us think that we should have achieved specific accomplishments. As Diosa states, “[25] a milestone age we look to and set deadlines for: “by the time I’m 25 I’ll have a house/career/long term partner/my life together” and so on. So when you get there and haven’t quite got everything figured out, it can feel like a failure, or like time is running out.” This applies to other milestone ages like 30. Forget them. The achievements you dream of don’t have a deadline or an expiry date.
2. You do you. It’s a weird age. In our 20s, we’re in the middle of being too young and being too old at the same time. Everyone around you is at completely different stages in their lives, doing completely different things. As Diosa states: “we are the chameleon age where just about everything is OK.” So don’t worry if you seem to be doing something different from those around you. Everyone is following their own path, and no path holds more value than another.
3. You don’t suddenly “become a grown up” – There is no number attached to that title, so don’t bother trying to reach it. It is impossible to reach something that doesn’t exist. Instead, enjoy your 20s. They are a time in your life you should enjoy. Don’t waste it worrying about what everyone else is doing and whether you’re good enough. Travel, spend time with the ones you love, do what you love, and life will somehow reward you.

– Leonie

Oh no, there goes my mental health!

Check out also, this TED Talk on Social Media and Mental Health spoken by Bailey Parnell – one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, she considers social media as the fabric of modern life or the “digital layer” where abstinence is becoming less of an option. Parnell suggests we should practice ‘safe socials’ before we experience the long-term, unintended consequences.

She begins her Talk –

Watch Here

I’m fat. Wow, I’m fat

She’s only nineteen years old, what am I doing with my life? Hey! Two likes! Nice. Do I like this photo? Does she really need more likes? I hope I’m going to be invited to the wedding. One more like, nice!

 

 

To consider this statement as a reality for young social media users, the worryingly harmful effects as a response to what is revealed in our newsfeeds has become something that should be addressed in terms of ‘millennial mental health’, promoting greater positivity in our daily, online encounters.

 

Bailey Parnell is currently pursuing her Masters in Communication and Culture with a research focus on social media and mental health, and holds an honours BA from the RTA School of Media at Ryerson, Canada.

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EC

Millennials : “difficult, entitled and spoilt”?

The answer? Studies say no, based off a new study ‘Generation Nation’ released by a boutique firm (in Sydney, 2017), 747 Insights in partnership with consumer intelligence platform Collaborata.

Millennials are defined as people born 1981-1997, being within the ages of 20 – 36.

Something we all have perhaps heard in regards to our generation, is explained as:

“For so long, people talked about the millennials as having helicopter parents, being unprepared, and their parents doing everything for them,” (Woods, Principal Researcher)

The study reveals that the generational differences comes down to three primary areas: age, societal norms, and technology.

Findings highlight that certain behaviours and beliefs are ‘dictated by life stages’, inferring that the previous Generation X or Baby Boomers would have the same response to the world as it is today.

Also to note – Baby Boomers were once considered a ‘me generation’ which identifies the biases that are commonly placed upon younger generations.

Meanwhile millennials in regards to their careers revealed to have;

• Incredible resilience
• A positive outlook
• No fear in dominating conversation with the intent to contribute to change for the greater good
• “Honest and transparent and very candid, (relationships)”
• A level of care towards their work beyond their pay-check

As part of being a 20-something in 2018 and in your ‘millennial careers’, there is a common comparison to your parents and the world that is years past that often fails to consider technology, culture and societal norms that were vastly different to the world we live in today.

So next time someone says ‘back in my day’, or perhaps ‘when are you getting married’ or ‘how will your child understand your relationship if you aren’t married?’

Remember, there is no need for pressure, there are no deadlines – especially when you are preoccupied in trying to make the world a better place.

Image Source: Roll Safe

 

 

Header Image:  The Vantage Point 

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EC